What keeps your pellet stove going during a power outage?

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JohnRXL

Member
Jan 7, 2013
105
Ontario,Canada
I had a battery back up for my Englander 25PDV, but when I tested it out it didn't work worth a darn, crapped out right away lights started flashing and it started beeping at me so I had to unplug it. I just use it now for a surge protector while I figure out what I'm going to get. The internal battery is good it just wasn't capable of keeping the stove running.
Now I'm on the lookout for something bigger or maybe one of those sump pump back ups. What do you have and how long will it run the stove for if your power goes out?
 
I have a genny but prefer to use that for the telly and lights. I just fire the backup wood eater. If the house gets chilly. I will fire the pellet eater to use the fan to circulate the air for a bit. Working on a UPS that will handle the stoves shutdown when we aren't home. I have had some smoke smell from an abrupt shutdown from a power outage.
 
A good inverter, 1 or more deep cycle batteries or hook the inverter up to the vehicle. Cars can idle fine for hours if needed.
 
My motorhomes genny takes care of the whole house. It's quiet and I have a weeks worth of fuel in the tank. Because I get water in the basement, a generator is a must!
 
We lost power for about 8.5 hours one day last week. I have a yamaha inverter generator that I hooked up to my main panel thru a main panel interlock. I ran my pellet stove, refrigerator, freezer, etc. I was happy to find out everything worked good. It was the first run of extended time with this generator. If you loose power often it is something to look into.
 
I have a pure sine wave champion generator and an APC 750 Ups. I also stock 50 gallons of gas. The Ups is plugged in to a surge protector and the stove is plugged into the ups. I also ran a dedicated circuit for my stove from my panel. Lost power for 8 hours and didnt miss a beat. The ups kept the stove running until I could start the generator. My Harmon is suppose to know when it is on battery back up and go into shut down after a period of time but never tested it (To cold out) when it warms up I am going to test to see if it shuts down incase I am not home when the power goes out.
 
See my sig......UPS lasts for roughly 45 minutes...plenty of time to shut down or get the Benny going....as long as I am home...UPS works perfectly....make sure it is a pure sine wave
 
I have a gas generator and am looking into something that is not dependent on gas or propane. Thinking and planning some solar panels, some deep cell batteries and an inverter for a more lengthy solution to a major grid failure. Gas is only good if it is fresh and the gas station has electricity for its pumps. Storing solution for a large quantity of gasoline is not an option. Grid goes down for months during the winter, you're screwed.

Anyone have a small solar array with some deep cell batteries as I have described?
 
I have a yamaha inverter generator that I hooked up to my main panel thru a main panel interlock.

Which model do you have?? I'm looking to get one, like Chandler R I get water in the basement with the 3" + storms.
Thanks.
 
Generator works great. Last time we lost power the house filled with smoke.
 
Which model do you have?? I'm looking to get one, like Chandler R I get water in the basement with the 3" + storms.

Will, it's a 6300 isde. I picked it up on ebay after all the storms we had last year. New it's expensive, I payed about half. Looked at CL and ebay for a long time. The inverter generators are so much quieter.
 
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Generator. Runs the whole house. It's nice to have, and if you ever feel like you don't have enough friends, just get a generator and wait for the power to go out. Then you are suddenly everyone's best friend. Best part of losing power for days and days is I get to have my in-laws staying with us until the power comes back on. It's awesome
 
Generator. Runs the whole house. It's nice to have, and if you ever feel like you don't have enough friends, just get a generator and wait for the power to go out. Then you are suddenly everyone's best friend. Best part of losing power for days and days is I get to have my in-laws staying with us until the power comes back on. It's awesome

Yeah, I bet! !!!
 
Will, it's a 6300 isde. I picked it up on ebay after all the storms we had last year. New it's expensive, I payed about half. Looked at CL and ebay for a long time. The inverter generators are so much quieter.

Thanks appreciate the info they are $$ but I don't think I'll need one that big . Lived here for 22 yrs. longest with out power 24 hrs. + -. Just want to be able to have tv ,internet,run pumps if water was an issue that's my big concern. Have the wood burner for heat & propane for cooking. I do like the Yamaha's quiet is good:)

Thanks again

Will
 
Best part of losing power for days and days is I get to have my in-laws staying with us until the power comes back on. It's awesome

I'm sure the Beer consumption increases :) and I'm not talking about sharing either;)
 
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Anyone have a small solar array with some deep cell batteries as I have described?

Third pic down:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/show-off-your-stove.102613/page-3#post-1322952

My setup is capable or running the stove for 5 days without sun. Could add days by setting temp lower and lighting manually. Could also allow the bank to discharge more then 50 percent last resort.

To the orginal op's question. A lot of good advice given, many ways to skin the proverbial cat. Personally I like having more than one option. I have gen, before that a small 800w inverter (car hookup) and now the solar. My solar setup will run small apliances, lights, water pump etc. but my gen can run the whole house. So it depends on what you want to accomplish and how "lean" you're willing to run off grid. Each solution will have its pro's and con's.
 
Generator. Runs the whole house. It's nice to have, and if you ever feel like you don't have enough friends, just get a generator and wait for the power to go out. Then you are suddenly everyone's best friend. Best part of losing power for days and days is I get to have my in-laws staying with us until the power comes back on. It's awesome

When the power went out here from Irene I brought a generator to my inlaws so they wold not come here
 
Third pic down:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/show-off-your-stove.102613/page-3#post-1322952

My setup is capable or running the stove for 5 days without sun. Could add days by setting temp lower and lighting manually. Could also allow the bank to discharge more then 50 percent last resort.

To the orginal op's question. A lot of good advice given, many ways to skin the proverbial cat. Personally I like having more than one option. I have gen, before that a small 800w inverter (car hookup) and now the solar. My solar setup will run small apliances, lights, water pump etc. but my gen can run the whole house. So it depends on what you want to accomplish and how "lean" you're willing to run off grid. Each solution will have its pro's and con's.

That right there is just like showing off even. Are you related to dex? :p
 
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That right there is just like showing off even. Are you related to dex? :p
Lol. Do I win the best toy award? Had nor eastern that knocked the power out for a week. Then a tornado for several more days of no grid. Learned real quick how dependent I was on those electrons.
 
Lol. Do I win the best toy award? Had nor eastern that knocked the power out for a week. Then a tornado for several more days of no grid. Learned real quick how dependent I was on those electrons.

In my book, Yep hands down! Way cool. Don't let my wife see dat!
 
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I have a 12 KW diesel generator and 1350 gallons of diesel fuel. When the power goes out, nothing changes but the sound of the diesel in the background.

Dave
 
I have a 12 KW diesel generator and 1350 gallons of diesel fuel. When the power goes out, nothing changes but the sound of the diesel in the background.

Dave

You are prepared well done!:cool:
 
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